Back to nature because it nurtures

July 23, 2008|By Gayle Gennett Courier Columnist

I turned the TV on to an educational channel this morning, checking in with the man who routinely could button or zip a cardigan without mismatching the button holes or getting his zipper jammed. I surprised myself by remembering the first line of his enduring song, “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood…I begin to hum the rest, never one for memorizing an entire song. I could hear the lilt of our daughters voice as she swiftly made her way out the front door. It went something like, “ mom, please keep the TV off and read the twins a book, sing songs, take them for a walk and play outside”. Gosh, she likes to give orders.

Once ‘mom’ was out of site the Today Show miraculously came on and much to my surprise the first topic was ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’. I thought I knew all of the disorders from my many years working as a counselor. Could this really be such a term? It’s defined by its author, journalist Richard Louv, as the cumulative effect of withdrawing nature from a childs experience. It’s not a clinical diagnosis but a name he feels may be used in the future to explain childhood obesity, lack of concentration and childhood stress.

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Back in the old days when I was growing up we spent the majority of our day outside only checking in with mom because our stomach spoke to us saying lunch or dinner time must be soon. Hopscotch, hula hoops, hide and seek, jacks, jump ropes, building forts, and collecting new bugs for our vast collection was part of a typical summers day. It’s very evident with the advent of technology that we have made it easier for children to spend less time outside. Mr. Louv states that an eight year old can identify more ‘Pokeman’ characters than flowers, birds and insects combined. Studies he conducted suggest that daily doses of nature enhance the ability to focus. He also made the declaration that time spent exploring the woods and playing in the out doors improves self esteem , nurtures independence, and creates adults who have a better appreciation for protecting the earth.

I listened intently to Mr. Louv, but felt the twins needed my attention- their pulling down the living room curtains was my first clue. After remembering how to unfold a stroller large enough to carry a family of eight I found the eco- friendly sun hats, SPF 50 sun screen and proceeded to secure the boys into their assigned seats. We were headed for the great outdoors and prepared to take on nature and gain a little self esteem. We took in the sites of beautiful neighborhood gardens as we headed towards a small beach nearby. The boys and I passed chirping birds, brightly colored flowers, and fluttering butterflies. I was careful to point them all out for the eyes of two eager eight month old boys. When we arrived to our beach destination I was surprised at how few children were in the area. Actually I had walked two miles through neighborhoods and not one child was present. Was Mr. Louv right? Were the young future Einstein’s and Picasso’s keeping their cool in an air conditioned home playing with their game boy? I felt fortunate in taking the opportunity to share nature with our grandsons and proud of a daughter that had left me those words of turning off the TV. The hills in the neighborhood we walked through on the way home gave my calves a workout so this venture was proving worthwhile for grandma as well. By the time we had reached the steps leading up to the front door I realized I had been humming. The song we heard earlier this morning was echoing in my ears …” It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood……” and it truly is.